No trial date yet for four accused cops

The Hawks did not expect the four Bela-Bela cops accused of an armed robbery to go on trial just yet.

The Limpopo provincial Dirctorate for Priority Crime Investigations (Hawks) spokesperson, Captain Matimba Maluleka, confirmed the foursome was expected to appear before the Bela-Bela
Magistrate’s Court on Friday 9 November.

He said the Hawks would be guided by the courts in terms of the setting of a trial date.

The four accused are namely Sergeant Humbulani Mulaudzi (39), Constable Hlengani Jan Maswanganyi (33), Constable Sibusiso Makwela (37) and Constable Simon Sebelebele (40).

Meantime, internal SAPS processes continued with regards to the fate of the four officers, who were expected to report for duty pending the conclusion of matters at hand.

The four had a deadline of Wednesday 10 October to make submissions to the police authorities, according to Bela-Bela SAPS Station Commander, Colonel Lindie Marx.

The four officers were on conditional bail of R5 000 each.

The bail condition was that the four report to the police station in Bela-Bela once a week, and were warned not to interfere with witnesses.

The court appearance this Friday was a sequel to the brazen armed robbery from which a cash amount of R190 000 was taken.

The charges against the four officers include kidnapping, armed robbery and corruption.

Court orderlies and the SAPS Public Order Policing unit had their hands full, controlling throngs of spectators at the time of the first appearance of the men in court.

— The BEAT